×

Select Store

Dowload from Google Play Dowload from the App Store

Scan with Camera

Dowload via QR Code
Notes from the Underground | Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B2 Learners

Notes from the Underground | Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B2 Learners

Unlock the potential of this modern translation approach, designed to enhance your language learning experience. By allowing you to choose your difficulty level, it guarantees a personalized challenge that's suited to your progress. This method promotes comprehension by encouraging you to infer the meaning of new words from context, rather than relying heavily on direct translations. Though some translations are obscured to stimulate guessing, it's perfectly fine to consult a dictionary when needed. This technique combines challenge and support, making language learning fun and effective. Explore these translated classics to enjoy literature while advancing your language skills.

I
Iamasickman....
Iamaspitefulman.
Iamanunattractiveman.
Ibelievemy
hígado
liverisdiseased.
However,Iknownothingatallaboutmydisease,anddonotknowforcertainwhatailsme.
Idon’t
consulto
consultadoctorforit,andneverhave,thoughIhavearespectformedicineanddoctors.
Besides,Iamextremely
supersticioso
superstitious,sufficientlysotorespectmedicine,anyway(Iamwell-educatedenoughnottobe
supersticioso
superstitious,butIamsuperstitious).
No,Irefuseto
consultar
consultadoctorfromspite.
Thatyouprobablywillnotunderstand.
Well,Iunderstandit,though.
Ofcourse,Ican’texplainwhoitis
precisamente
preciselythatIammortifyinginthiscasebymy
rencor
spite:
IamperfectlywellawarethatIcannot“payout”thedoctorsbynotconsultingthem;
IknowbetterthananyonethatbyallthisIamonly
lastimando
injuringmyselfandnooneelse.
Butstill,ifIdon’t
consulto
consultadoctoritisfrom
rencor
spite.
Myliverisbad,well—letitgetworse!
Ihavebeengoingonlikethatforalongtime—twentyyears.
NowIamforty.
Iusedtobeinthegovernmentservice,butamnolonger.
Iwasaspitefulofficial.
Iwasrudeandtookpleasureinbeingso.
Ididnottakebribes,yousee,soIwasboundtofindarecompenseinthat,atleast.
(Apoorjest,butIwillnotscratchitout.
Iwroteitthinkingitwouldsoundverywitty;
butnowthatIhaveseenmyselfthatIonlywantedtoshowoffina
despreciable
despicableway,Iwillnotscratchitoutonpurpose!)
WhenpetitionersusedtocomeforinformationtothetableatwhichIsat,Iusedtogrindmyteethatthem,andfelt
intenso
intenseenjoymentwhenIsucceededinmakinganybodyunhappy.
Ialmostdidsucceed.
Forthemostparttheywerealltimidpeople—ofcourse,theywerepetitioners.
ButoftheuppishonestherewasoneofficerinparticularIcouldnot
soportar
endure.
Hesimplywouldnotbe
humilde
humble,andclankedhisswordinadisgustingway.
Icarriedonafeudwithhimforeighteenmonthsoverthatsword.
AtlastIgotthebetterofhim.
Heleftoffclankingit.
Thathappenedinmyyouth,though.
Butdoyouknow,gentlemen,whatwasthechiefpointaboutmy
rencor
spite?
Why,thewholepoint,therealstingofitlayinthefactthat
continuamente
continually,eveninthemomentoftheacutest
bazo
spleen,IwasinwardlyconsciouswithshamethatIwasnotonlynotaspitefulbutnotevenanembitteredman,thatIwassimplyscaringsparrowsatrandomandamusingmyselfbyit.
Imight
espuma
foamatthemouth,butbringmeadolltoplaywith,givemeacupofteawithsugarinit,andmaybeIshouldbeappeased.
Imightevenbe
genuinamente
genuinelytouched,thoughprobablyIshouldgrindmyteethatmyselfafterwardsandlieawakeatnightwithshameformonthsafter.
Thatwasmyway.
IwaslyingwhenIsaidjustnowthatIwasaspitefulofficial.
Iwaslyingfrom
rencor
spite.
Iwassimplyamusingmyselfwiththepetitionersandwiththeofficer,andinrealityInevercouldbecomespiteful.
Iwas
consciente
consciouseverymomentinmyselfofmany,verymanyelementsabsolutelyoppositetothat.
Ifeltthem
positivamente
positivelyswarminginme,theseoppositeelements.
Iknewthattheyhadbeenswarminginmeallmylifeand
anhelando
cravingsomeoutletfromme,butIwouldnotletthem,wouldnotletthem,
a propósito
purposelywouldnotletthemcomeout.
TheytormentedmetillIwasashamed:
theydrovemetoconvulsionsand—sickenedme,atlast,howtheysickenedme!
Now,arenotyoufancying,gentlemen,thatIamexpressing
remordimiento
remorseforsomethingnow,thatIamaskingyour
perdón
forgivenessforsomething?
Iamsureyouarefancyingthat...
However,I
aseguro
assureyouIdonotcareifyouare....
ItwasnotonlythatIcouldnotbecomespiteful,Ididnotknowhowtobecomeanything;
neitherspitefulnorkind,neithera
sinvergüenza
rascalnoranhonestman,neitheraheronoran
insecto
insect.
Now,Iamlivingoutmylifeinmycorner,tauntingmyselfwiththespitefulanduseless
consuelo
consolationthatanintelligentmancannotbecomeanythingseriously,anditisonlythefoolwhobecomesanything.
Yes,amaninthenineteenthcenturymustand
moralmente
morallyoughttobepre-eminentlyacharacterlesscreature;
amanofcharacter,an
activo
activemanispre-eminentlyalimitedcreature.
Thatismy
convicción
convictionoffortyyears.
Iamfortyyearsoldnow,andyouknowfortyyearsisawholelifetime;
youknowitisextremeoldage.
Tolivelongerthanfortyyearsisbadmanners,is
vulgar
vulgar,immoral.
Whodoeslivebeyondforty?
Answerthat,sincerelyandhonestlyIwilltellyouwhodo:
foolsandworthlessfellows.
Itellalloldmenthattotheirface,allthesevenerableoldmen,allthesesilver-hairedandreverendseniors!
Itellthewholeworldthattoitsface!
Ihavearighttosayso,forIshallgoonlivingtosixtymyself.
Toseventy!
Toeighty!
Stay,letmetakebreath...
Youimaginenodoubt,gentlemen,thatIwanttoamuseyou.
Youaremistakeninthat,too.
Iambynomeanssuchamirthfulpersonasyouimagine,orasyoumayimagine;
however,
irritado
irritatedbyallthisbabble(andIfeelthatyouare
irritado
irritated)youthinkfittoaskmewhoIam—thenmyansweris,Iamacollegiateassessor.
IwasintheservicethatImighthavesomethingtoeat(andsolelyforthatreason),andwhenlastyearadistantrelationleftmesixthousandroublesinhiswillIimmediately
retiré
retiredfromtheserviceandsettleddowninmycorner.
Iusedtoliveinthiscornerbefore,butnowIhavesettleddowninit.
Myroomisawretched,
horrible
horridoneintheoutskirtsofthetown.
Myservantisanoldcountry-woman,ill-naturedfrom
estupidez
stupidity,and,moreover,thereisalwaysanastysmellabouther.
IamtoldthatthePetersburg
clima
climateisbadforme,andthatwithmysmallmeansitisveryexpensivetoliveinPetersburg.
Iknowallthatbetterthanallthesesageandexperiencedcounsellorsandmonitors....
ButIamremaininginPetersburg;
IamnotgoingawayfromPetersburg!
Iamnotgoingawaybecause...
ech!
Why,itisabsolutelynomatterwhetherIamgoingawayornotgoingaway.
Butwhatcanadecentmanspeakofwithmostpleasure?
Answer:
Ofhimself.
II
Iwantnowtotellyou,gentlemen,whetheryoucaretohearitornot,whyIcouldnotevenbecomean
insecto
insect.
Itellyousolemnly,thatIhavemanytimestriedtobecomean
insecto
insect.
ButIwasnotequaleventothat.
Iswear,gentlemen,thattobetoo
consciente
consciousisanillness—arealthorough-going
enfermedad
illness.
Forman’severydayneeds,itwouldhavebeenquiteenoughtohavetheordinaryhuman
conciencia
consciousness,thatis,halforaquarteroftheamountwhichfallstothelotofa
cultivado
cultivatedmanofourunhappynineteenthcentury,especiallyonewhohasthe
fatal
fatalill-lucktoinhabitPetersburg,themosttheoreticaland
intencional
intentionaltownonthewholeterrestrial
globo
globe.
(Thereareintentionalandunintentionaltowns.)
Itwouldhavebeenquiteenough,for
ejemplo
instance,tohavetheconsciousnessbywhichallso-calleddirectpersonsandmenofactionlive.
IbetyouthinkIamwritingallthisfromaffectation,tobewittyatthe
expensas
expenseofmenofaction;
andwhatismore,thatfromill-bredaffectation,Iamclankingaswordlikemyofficer.
But,gentlemen,whoevercanpridehimselfonhisdiseasesandevenswaggeroverthem?
Though,afterall,everyonedoesdothat;
peopledopridethemselvesontheirdiseases,andIdo,maybe,morethananyone.
Wewillnot
disputaremos
disputeit;
mycontentionwasabsurd.
ButyetIamfirmly
convencido
persuadedthatagreatdealof
conciencia
consciousness,everysortofconsciousness,infact,isadisease.
Isticktothat.
Letusleavethat,too,foraminute.
Tellmethis:
whydoesithappenthatatthevery,yes,attheverymomentswhenIammostcapableoffeelingeveryrefinementofallthatis“sublimeandbeautiful,”astheyusedtosayatonetime,itwould,asthoughofdesign,happentomenotonlytofeelbuttodosuchuglythings,suchthat...
Well,inshort,actionsthatall,perhaps,commit;
butwhich,asthough
a propósito
purposely,occurredtomeattheverytimewhenIwasmost
consciente
consciousthattheyoughtnottobecommitted.
Themore
consciente
consciousIwasofgoodnessandofallthatwas“sublimeandbeautiful,”themoredeeplyI
hundía
sankintomymireandthemorereadyIwasto
hundía
sinkinitaltogether.
Butthechiefpointwasthatallthiswas,asitwere,not
accidental
accidentalinme,butasthoughitwereboundtobeso.
Itwasasthoughitweremymostnormalcondition,andnotintheleastdiseaseordepravity,sothatatlastalldesireinmetostruggleagainstthisdepravitypassed.
Itendedbymyalmostbelieving(perhapsactuallybelieving)thatthiswasperhapsmynormalcondition.
Butatfirst,inthebeginning,whatagoniesI
soporté
enduredinthatstruggle!
Ididnotbelieveitwasthesamewithotherpeople,andallmylifeIhidthisfactaboutmyselfasasecret.
Iwasashamed(evennow,perhaps,Iamashamed):
Igottothepointoffeelingasortofsecret
anormal
abnormal,despicableenjoymentinreturninghometomycorneronsomedisgustingPetersburgnight,acutely
consciente
consciousthatthatdayIhadcommittedaloathsomeactionagain,thatwhatwasdonecouldneverbe
deshecho
undone,andsecretly,inwardlygnawing,gnawingatmyselfforit,tearingand
consumir
consumingmyselftillatlastthe
amargura
bitternessturnedintoasortofshamefulaccursed
dulzura
sweetness,andatlast—intopositivereal
disfrute
enjoyment!
Yes,intoenjoyment,into
disfrute
enjoyment!
Iinsistuponthat.
IhavespokenofthisbecauseIkeepwantingtoknowforafactwhetherotherpeoplefeelsuch
disfrute
enjoyment?
Iwillexplain;
the
disfrute
enjoymentwasjustfromthetoointense
conciencia
consciousnessofone’sowndegradation;
itwasfromfeelingoneselfthatonehadreachedthelast
barrera
barrier,thatitwashorrible,butthatitcouldnotbeotherwise;
thattherewasnoescapeforyou;
thatyounevercouldbecomeadifferentman;
thateveniftimeandfaithwerestillleftyoutochangeintosomethingdifferentyouwouldmostlikelynotwishtochange;
orifyoudidwishto,eventhenyouwoulddonothing;
becauseperhapsinrealitytherewasnothingforyoutochangeinto.
Andtheworstofitwas,andthe
raíz
rootofitall,thatitwasallinaccordwiththenormalfundamentallawsofover-acute
conciencia
consciousness,andwiththeinertiathatwasthedirectresultofthoselaws,andthatconsequentlyonewasnotonly
incapaz
unabletochangebutcoulddoabsolutelynothing.
Thusitwouldfollow,astheresultof
aguda
acuteconsciousness,thatoneisnottoblameinbeinga
sinvergüenza
scoundrel;
asthoughthatwereany
consuelo
consolationtothescoundreloncehehascometorealisethatheactuallyisa
sinvergüenza
scoundrel.
Butenough....
Ech,Ihavetalkedalotofnonsense,butwhathaveIexplained?
Howis
goce
enjoymentinthistobeexplained?
ButIwillexplainit.
Iwillgettothebottomofit!
ThatiswhyIhavetakenupmypen....
I,for
ejemplo
instance,haveagreatdealofamourpropre.
Iamassuspiciousand
propenso
pronetotakeoffenceasahumpbackora
enano
dwarf.
ButuponmywordIsometimeshavehadmomentswhenifIhadhappenedtobeslappedinthefaceIshould,perhaps,havebeen
positivamente
positivelygladofit.
Isay,in
serio
earnest,thatIshouldprobablyhavebeenableto
descubrir
discovereveninthata
peculiar
peculiarsortofenjoyment—theenjoyment,ofcourse,of
desesperación
despair;
butindespairtherearethemostintenseenjoyments,especiallywhenoneisveryacutely
consciente
consciousofthehopelessnessofone’sposition.
Andwhenoneisslappedintheface—whythenthe
conciencia
consciousnessofbeingrubbedintoa
pulpa
pulpwouldpositivelyoverwhelmone.
Theworstofitis,lookatitwhichwayonewill,itstillturnsoutthatIwasalwaysthemosttoblameineverything.
Andwhatismosthumiliatingofall,toblamefornofaultofmyownbut,sotosay,throughthelawsofnature.
Inthefirstplace,toblamebecauseIamclevererthananyofthepeople
rodean
surroundingme.
(Ihavealwaysconsideredmyselfclevererthananyofthepeople
rodean
surroundingme,andsometimes,wouldyoubelieveit,havebeen
positivamente
positivelyashamedofit.
Atanyrate,Ihaveallmylife,asitwere,turnedmyeyesawayandnevercouldlookpeoplestraightintheface.)
Toblame,finally,becauseevenifIhadhadmagnanimity,Ishouldonlyhavehadmoresufferingfromthesenseofitsuselessness.
Ishouldcertainlyhaveneverbeenabletodoanythingfrombeingmagnanimous—neithertoforgive,formyassailantwouldperhapshave
abofeteado
slappedmefromthelawsofnature,andonecannotforgivethelawsofnature;
nortoforget,forevenifitwereowingtothelawsofnature,itis
insulto
insultingallthesame.
Finally,evenifIhadwantedtobeanythingbutmagnanimous,haddesiredonthecontrarytorevengemyselfonmyassailant,IcouldnothaverevengedmyselfonanyoneforanythingbecauseIshouldcertainlyneverhavemadeupmymindtodoanything,evenifIhadbeenableto.
WhyshouldInothavemadeupmymind?
III
Withpeoplewhoknowhowtorevengethemselvesandtostandupforthemselvesingeneral,howisitdone?
Why,whentheyarepossessed,letussuppose,bythefeelingofrevenge,thenforthetimethereisnothingelsebutthatfeelingleftintheirwholebeing.
Suchagentlemansimplydashesstraightforhisobjectlikeaninfuriatedbullwithitshornsdown,andnothingbutawallwillstophim.
(Bytheway:
facingthewall,suchgentlemen—thatis,the“direct”personsandmenofaction—are
genuinamente
genuinelynonplussed.
Forthemawallisnotanevasion,asforuspeoplewhothinkandconsequentlydonothing;
itisnotanexcuseforturningaside,anexcuseforwhichwearealwaysveryglad,thoughwescarcelybelieveinitourselves,asarule.
No,theyarenonplussedinall
sinceridad
sincerity.
Thewallhasforthemsomethingtranquillising,
moralmente
morallysoothing,final—maybeevensomething
misterioso
mysterious...
butofthewalllater.)
Well,suchadirectpersonIregardastherealnormalman,ashistendermothernaturewishedtoseehimwhenshegraciouslybroughthimintobeingontheearth.
I
envidio
envysuchamantillIamgreenintheface.
Heisstupid.
Iamnot
disputando
disputingthat,butperhapsthenormalmanshouldbestupid,howdoyouknow?
Perhapsitisverybeautiful,infact.
AndIamthemore
convencido
persuadedofthatsuspicion,ifonecancallitso,bythefactthatifyoutake,for
ejemplo
instance,theantithesisofthenormalman,thatis,themanof
aguda
acuteconsciousness,whohascome,ofcourse,notoutofthe
regazo
lapofnaturebutoutofaretort(thisisalmostmysticism,gentlemen,butIsuspectthis,too),thisretort-mademanissometimessononplussedinthepresenceofhisantithesisthatwithallhisexaggerated
conciencia
consciousnesshegenuinelythinksofhimselfasamouseandnotaman.
Itmaybeanacutely
consciente
consciousmouse,yetitisamouse,whiletheotherisaman,andtherefore,etcaetera,etcaetera.
Andtheworstofitis,hehimself,hisveryownself,looksonhimselfasamouse;
nooneaskshimtodoso;
andthatisanimportantpoint.
Nowletuslookatthismouseinaction.
Letussuppose,for
ejemplo
instance,thatitfeelsinsulted,too(anditalmostalwaysdoesfeel
insultado
insulted),andwantstorevengeitself,too.
Theremayevenbeagreateraccumulationof
rencor
spiteinitthaninl’hommedelanatureetdelavérité.
Thebaseandnastydesireto
ventilar
ventthatspiteonitsassailantranklesperhapsevenmorenastilyinitthaninl’hommedelanatureetdelavérité.
Forthroughhisinnate
estupidez
stupiditythelatterlooksuponhisrevengeasjusticepureandsimple;
whilein
consecuencia
consequenceofhisacuteconsciousnessthemousedoesnotbelieveinthejusticeofit.
Tocomeatlasttothedeeditself,totheveryactofrevenge.
Apartfromtheone
fundamental
fundamentalnastinessthelucklessmousesucceedsincreatingarounditsomanyothernastinessesintheformofdoubtsandquestions,addstotheonequestionsomanyunsettledquestionsthatthere
inevitablemente
inevitablyworksuparounditasortof
fatal
fatalbrew,astinkingmess,madeupofitsdoubts,emotions,andofthe
desprecio
contemptspatuponitbythedirectmenofactionwhostand
solemnemente
solemnlyaboutitasjudgesandarbitrators,laughingatittilltheirhealthysides
duelen
ache.
Ofcoursetheonlythingleftforitisto
desestimar
dismissallthatwithawaveofitspaw,and,withasmileofassumed
desprecio
contemptinwhichitdoesnotevenitselfbelieve,
arrastrarse
creepignominiouslyintoitsmouse-hole.
Thereinitsnasty,stinking,
subterráneo
undergroundhomeourinsulted,crushedand
ridiculizado
ridiculedmousepromptlybecomesabsorbedincold,malignantand,aboveall,
eterno
everlastingspite.
Forfortyyearstogetheritwillrememberitsinjurydowntothesmallest,mostignominiousdetails,andeverytimewilladd,ofitself,detailsstillmoreignominious,spitefully
burlándose
teasingandtormentingitselfwithitsownimagination.
Itwillitselfbeashamedofitsimaginings,butyetitwill
recordará
recallitall,itwillgooverandoverevery
detalle
detail,itwillinventunheardofthingsagainstitself,pretendingthatthosethingsmighthappen,andwillforgivenothing.
Maybeitwillbegintorevengeitself,too,but,asitwere,piecemeal,in
trivial
trivialways,frombehindthe
estufa
stove,incognito,withoutbelievingeitherinitsownrighttovengeance,orinthesuccessofitsrevenge,knowingthatfromallitseffortsatrevengeitwillsufferahundredtimesmorethanheonwhomitrevengesitself,whilehe,Idaresay,willnotevenscratchhimself.
Onitsdeathbeditwill
recordará
recallitalloveragain,withinterestaccumulatedoveralltheyearsand...
Butitisjustinthatcold,
abominable
abominablehalfdespair,halfbelief,inthat
consciente
consciousburyingoneselfalivefor
dolor
griefintheunderworldforfortyyears,inthatacutelyrecognisedandyet
en parte
partlydoubtfulhopelessnessofone’sposition,inthathellofunsatisfieddesiresturnedinward,inthatfeverofoscillations,ofresolutionsdeterminedforeverandrepentedofagainaminutelater—thatthesavourofthatstrange
disfrute
enjoymentofwhichIhavespokenlies.
Itisso
sutil
subtle,sodifficultofanalysis,thatpersonswhoarealittlelimited,orevensimplypersonsofstrongnerves,willnotunderstandasingle
átomo
atomofit.
“Possibly,”youwilladdonyourownaccountwitha
sonrisa
grin,“peoplewillnotunderstanditeitherwhohaveneverreceiveda
bofetada
slapintheface,”andinthatwayyouwill
educadamente
politelyhinttomethatI,too,perhaps,havehadtheexperienceofa
bofetada
slapinthefaceinmylife,andsoIspeakasonewhoknows.
Ibetthatyouarethinkingthat.
Butsetyourmindsatrest,gentlemen,Ihavenotreceiveda
bofetada
slapintheface,thoughitisabsolutelyamatterof
indiferencia
indifferencetomewhatyoumaythinkaboutit.
Possibly,Ievenregret,myself,thatIhavegivensofewslapsinthefaceduringmylife.
Butenough...
notanotherwordonthatsubjectofsuch
extremo
extremeinteresttoyou.
Iwillcontinue
calma
calmlyconcerningpersonswithstrongnerveswhodonotunderstandacertainrefinementof
disfrute
enjoyment.
Thoughincertaincircumstancesthesegentlemenbellowtheirloudestlikebulls,thoughthis,letussuppose,doesthemthegreatestcredit,yet,asIhavesaidalready,confrontedwiththeimpossibletheysubsideatonce.
Theimpossiblemeansthestonewall!
Whatstonewall?
Why,ofcourse,thelawsofnature,thedeductionsofnaturalscience,mathematics.